Does your Lab
limp? Is your Shepherd suddenly slow? If Sparky
isn't feeling too spunky these days, the culprit may be
arthritis. It's estimated that one if five adult dogs,
along with many cats, suffer from this very painful and
crippling disease. The good news is that today, there are
more ways to combat this illness than ever before.

Knowing
the Enemy

One
of the most common ailments in small animal medicine,
osteoarthritis, is a chronic, slowly progressing disease caused
by the breakdown and loss of cartilage and destruction of its
cells. Without protective cartilage, bone begins to rub
against bone, resulting in inflammation and joint pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is a condition in which
the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing
inflammation and pain while oftentimes leading to their
destruction.

While
arthritis can occur in any breed and at any age, it is most
prevalent in older pets. Large breed dogs such as Labrador
Retrievers are prone to problems with elbows and hips, while
small breeds such as Toy Poodles may experience arthritis in the
kneecaps. Cats tend to be particularly susceptible to
trouble in shoulder and elbow joints. Arthritis can also
occur in the back, neck, and other areas of the body, and it may
affect more than one area at a time.

Fortunately,
there are effective treatments for all stages of the disease;
however, early detection is key in minimizing your pet's
discomfort and maximizing his chance for responding
favorably. Keep in mind that warning signals can be very
subtle -- especially in a cat. Your pet may not
necessarily "cry" or show obvious signs of pain, so
keep a close eye on her and alert your veterinarian immediately
if you notice any of the following symptoms:

-
Difficulty getting up after sleeping

-
Stiffness after sleeping or exercise

-
Limping or favoring of legs

-
Repeated licking of joints

-
Reluctance to climb stairs or hop into cars

-
Unpredictable, aggressive, or "grumpy" behavior

-
Worsening of symptoms during cold or rainy weather

-
Lethargy

-
Incontinence

-
Loss of appetite

-
Falling behind on walks

Alternative
Therapies

While
arthritis is pets has traditionally been treated with surgery
and/or pharmaceuticals, many of today's afflicted animals are
finding long-term relief with holistic therapies and
treatments. TOPS Veterinary Rehab in Grayslake, Illinois,
is among the best facilities in America that are battling this
disease. While the practice sees mostly dogs, about 2% of
its patients are cats. Founder Dr. Laurie McCauley has
witnessed much success with holistic therapies. "We
recently treated an older dog who was only able to walk half a
block before going completely lame for the next 12 hours,"
she says. "Twelve weeks later, after going through
our therapy, the same dog is walking three miles every
day."

According
to Dr. McCauley, arthritis patients are most often treated with
a combination of therapies in conjunction with nutritional
supplements to provide the most relief, rebuilding, and
strengthening possible. (See page 13 for more info on
recommended supplements.) For example, she says,
"We may start a pet out with acupuncture and Hako-Med
treatments to get the pain under control, then progress to PST
treatment a couple of weeks later to repair damage. After
that, we may begin working in the hydro-treadmill to strengthen
muscles and joints and to increase flexibility, then move on to
specialty designed exercises to maintain that level of
functioning." Meanwhile, patients may be given
supplements to further promote rehabilitation of the cartilage,
and in many cases they're slowly weaned off any prescription
medications they were previously on. "It depends upon
the individual pet," Dr. McCauley says. "Some
pets are so severe that they must stay on the meds, but we try
to keep them off if at all possible. You can't just go
cold turkey, though; if your pet is able to come off the meds,
it should be done slowly and under the supervision of a
veterinarian."

As do many
rehab clinics nationwide, TOPS treats both osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis using the following therapies -- although
cats refrain from the water involved treatments!

Acupuncture

Used in
animal medicine for more than 3,000 years, acupuncture was first
brought to the United States in the 1970s. Fine needles
are inserted at specific points in the body, creating
physiological changes that help to relieve pain and muscle
spasms and to increase regeneration of the nerves.

Dr.
Patricia Cahill, of Northbrook Animal Hospital, has been
certified in veterinary acupuncture since 2000. "What
you're doing [with acupuncture] is treating the symptoms of pain
and inflammation while you're hopefully slowing the progression
of the disease with supplements. You will never be able to
fully cure the disease, but the goal is to manage the symptoms
and to keep the joints and tissues as healthy as possible.

Pulsed
Signal Therapy

Non-surgical
and pain free with no known side effects, PST has become a top
choice for arthritis treatment. How it works:
Electrical signals are repeated rhythmically at certain
intervals. This "activates" cells to increase
production of proteoglycans and collagen to promote regeneration
of cartilage. The therapy has proven highly effective in
reducing pain and swelling, and Dr. McCauley has witnessed
continued improvement in patients for up to 12 weeks after
treatment. While PST is new to the United States, it has
been used to effectively treat human arthritis and
tendon/ligament injuries in Europe for more than 20 years.
As it is still undergoing FDA evaluation in the U.S., it is
available exclusively for animal therapy at this time.
According to Dr. McCauley, TOPS has used PST in more than 150
cases with "very good results."

Hydro-Treadmill
Therapy

The use of
an underwater treadmill allows strengthening and rebuilding of
leg muscles in canine patients, with virtually no pressure on
the joints. A warm-water environment also promotes
flexibility, mobility, and circulation.

According
to Dr. McCauley, this new therapy is thought to be the
"cutting edge" in pain management. The therapy
is administered by a machine called the Hako-Med. Like
PST, it involves running electrical signals over the body, but
the signals are varied in a different way. Hako-Med can be
used in conjunction with a whirlpool for generalized
"all-over" conditions, or it can be used alone for
more localized pain.

Exercise

Dr. Barb
Royal, of Family Pet Hospital in Chicago, is an advocate of
"pets doing some sort of slow, low-impact exercise. I
really recommend that if your dog can swim, take him out to the
pool or water somewhere and let him work out a little at a
time. It's probably the best exercise there
is.

She
believes, "If your pet isn't actively moving, he's going to
deteriorate much faster. Pets that are doing some swimming
or other exercise are going to build up strength and increase
mobility and are just going to be able to get around much
better."

Prescribed
Relief

Keeping
pets comfortable is the goal. "Basically, I'll try
anything if I think it will help the pet with his pain and
inflammation," Dr. Cahill says. "It can't hurt,
and most times even if it doesn't completely work, it is still
an improvement."

Although
many people prefer to stick to more holistic treatments for
their pets, there are cases when "big guns" may be
needed to help control severe pain and debilitation.
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), steroids, and
other types of prescription medications can be miracle workers
at relieving pain and inflammation, but they also carry the risk
of potentially dangerous side effects. Always watch for symptoms
of adverse reaction when your pet is on any prescribed drug, and
never give your pet over-the-counter human pain relievers
without first consulting with your veterinarian.

NSAIDs
(Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)

One NSAID
developed especially for dogs, Rimadyl (Carprofen), is highly
effective at reducing pain and inflammation, as is Etogesic (Etodolac).
While your pet may feel and act like a new dog, it is important
to realize that these types of drugs do not treat the disease or
rehabilitate cartilage. Also, as with any NSAID, side
effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal upset, abnormal
bleeding, and kidney and liver problems have been reported in
some dogs. Labrador Retrievers in particular have
experienced serious liver problems related to these medications,
and death has occurred in a small number of cases as well.

DMOADs
(Disease-Modifying Osteoarthritis Drugs)

Adequan (Polysulfated
Glycosaminoglycan) is a part of a unique class of drugs which
fight osteoarthritis by relieving pain and repairing
damage. This veterinarian-administered injection
stimulates cartilage repair and suppresses the enzymes that
destroy joints. In addition, it reduces inflammation and
improves joint lubrication, which in turn relieves pain and
makes movement easier. Possible side effects may include
soreness at the injection site, vomiting, diarrhea, depression,
and abnormal bleeding, although reported side effects are
infrequent and usually mild.

Steroids

Steroid
medications such as Prednisone are extremely potent
anti-inflammatory drugs which are usually used in more severe
cases when NSAIDs or other treatments are not able to fully
control swelling and pain. Prolonged use, however, may
cause side effects such as gastric glycemia, and insulin
resistance, and it may actually speed up cartilage destruction
rather than help slow it down.

The
Surgical Option

Although
surgery is not a welcome idea to most pet guardians, it may be
the last resort in some cases of severe advanced
arthritis. Pets who have not previously responded
favorably to medications and/or therapy may find the greatest
relief by way of hip replacement surgery, joint fusion, joint
removal, or any number of other procedures. Talk to your
veterinarian about your pet's specific options, their chances of
success, and any risks involved.